{"id":5862,"date":"2026-06-25T18:02:36","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T18:02:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/?p=5862"},"modified":"2026-06-25T18:02:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T18:02:36","slug":"offices-generate-nearly-6-of-polands-gdp-50676","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/offices-generate-nearly-6-of-polands-gdp-50676\/","title":{"rendered":"Offices Generate Nearly 6% of Poland\u2019s GDP"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Offices currently generate around PLN 200 billion in gross value added annually in Poland, equivalent to nearly 6% of GDP. Without offices, Warsaw and Poland\u2019s other largest cities could lose approximately PLN 50 billion a year, while the capital itself might have more than 600,000 fewer residents. These are among the conclusions of an analysis suggesting that, while a world without offices may appear more convenient and environmentally friendly, the consequences for the economy and urban development would be far-reaching.<\/p>\n<p>Can we imagine a reality in which offices had never existed? Everyone works from home, companies recruit people regardless of where they live, and physical presence in one place is no longer a condition for cooperation. From a quality-of-life perspective, such a scenario may seem attractive: more time, more flexibility and less pressure associated with daily commuting. The question, however, is whether it would also be a more productive, innovative and prosperous world.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/offices-generate-nearly-6-of-polands-gdp-50676\/#Offices_as_a_foundation_of_the_modern_economy\" >Offices as a foundation of the modern economy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/offices-generate-nearly-6-of-polands-gdp-50676\/#The_agglomeration_premium_a_hidden_engine_of_growth\" >The agglomeration premium: a hidden engine of growth<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/offices-generate-nearly-6-of-polands-gdp-50676\/#A_new_distribution_of_gains_and_losses\" >A new distribution of gains and losses<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/offices-generate-nearly-6-of-polands-gdp-50676\/#When_the_home_becomes_the_office\" >When the home becomes the office<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/offices-generate-nearly-6-of-polands-gdp-50676\/#The_convenience_of_remote_work_and_the_cost_of_social_isolation\" >The convenience of remote work and the cost of social isolation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/offices-generate-nearly-6-of-polands-gdp-50676\/#A_more_convenient_world_but_would_it_be_better\" >A more convenient world, but would it be better?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/offices-generate-nearly-6-of-polands-gdp-50676\/#The_role_of_relationships_in_office_space\" >The role of relationships in office space<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Offices_as_a_foundation_of_the_modern_economy\"><\/span>Offices as a foundation of the modern economy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In the debate about the labour market, offices are often viewed as an operating cost or simply as a tool for organising work. Their economic importance, however, is far greater. Offices provide the physical infrastructure around which modern knowledge-based sectors have developed over decades.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cPoland\u2019s stock of modern office space now exceeds 13 million square metres, of which more than 6 million square metres is located in Warsaw. It is around business centres that professional services, finance, technology, advisory services and modern business services have developed \u2014 sectors that have been among the country\u2019s most important engines of economic growth over the past three decades,\u201d says Katarzyna Tasarek-Skrok, Director in the Office Agency at Colliers.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cIt is estimated that office-related economic activity currently accounts for around PLN 200 billion in gross value added each year, or almost 6% of Poland\u2019s GDP. In a world without offices, the fundamental question is not where this value would move, but rather what share of it could be created at all,\u201d adds Grzegorz Sielewicz, Chief Economist for Central and Eastern Europe at Colliers.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_agglomeration_premium_a_hidden_engine_of_growth\"><\/span>The agglomeration premium: a hidden engine of growth<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The success of the largest cities rests on one of the key concepts of urban economics: the agglomeration premium. It describes the benefits created by concentrating people, companies, capital and institutions in one location. The proximity of businesses and everyday interactions between employees encourage faster knowledge flows, the exchange of experience and the emergence of innovation.<\/p>\n<p>This is why central business districts have developed in the world\u2019s largest cities. They are not accidental; they are the result of a drive for higher productivity. In a world without offices, this mechanism would be significantly weakened. Cities would remain attractive places to live, but their capacity to generate economic growth would be noticeably lower.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_new_distribution_of_gains_and_losses\"><\/span>A new distribution of gains and losses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The disappearance of offices would not mean evenly distributed losses across all regions. Some locations could even benefit from such a scenario. Without the need for daily commuting and physical presence in an office, far more people might choose to live outside the largest metropolitan areas.<\/p>\n<p>Economic activity would become more dispersed across smaller centres, and part of the income currently concentrated in the largest cities would be distributed more broadly.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cAccording to the analysis, the benefits of such a decentralisation of activity could reach around PLN 30 billion annually. The problem is that Warsaw and the largest regional cities would simultaneously lose around PLN 50 billion in economic value each year. The final balance would mean an economy smaller by roughly PLN 20 billion annually,\u201d says Grzegorz Sielewicz.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The most striking consequences can be seen in the case of the capital. Warsaw\u2019s development after 1990 was closely linked to the growth of white-collar employment and the concentration of modern business services. It is estimated that between 60% and 70% of migration to Warsaw has been directly or indirectly connected to the white-collar labour market.<\/p>\n<p>In a world without offices, a significant share of this migration simply would not have happened. Assuming that around two-thirds of economically driven migration to the capital did not take place, Warsaw could now have more than 600,000 fewer residents. Its population could be around 1.3 million instead of the current 1.9 million.<\/p>\n<p>Such a scenario would have far-reaching financial consequences. Lower revenues from personal and corporate income taxes would limit the city\u2019s ability to finance infrastructure, public transport, education, culture and social services.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_the_home_becomes_the_office\"><\/span>When the home becomes the office<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The absence of offices would also affect the architecture of housing. Today\u2019s homes are designed on the assumption that a substantial part of professional activity takes place outside the home. If work had always been performed exclusively at the place of residence, housing standards would look very different.<\/p>\n<p>The average home would need an additional shared workspace. This would increase the average floor area by around 15 square metres, meaning the typical house or flat would grow from approximately 75 square metres, according to Statistics Poland data, to around 90 square metres.<\/p>\n<p>Property prices would also change. Today, central locations retain high values partly because of their proximity to workplaces. In a world without offices, this factor would largely disappear. Homes in city centres could become relatively less expensive, while properties offering better conditions for remote work, more space and a higher quality of life could command a premium.<\/p>\n<p>Location would no longer be the strongest selling point. Functionality would take its place.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_convenience_of_remote_work_and_the_cost_of_social_isolation\"><\/span>The convenience of remote work and the cost of social isolation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The absence of daily commutes would change how cities operate and how public investment is directed. Lower pressure on transport could reduce the scale of metro and tram network development, while some resources could be redirected towards digital infrastructure, including fibre networks, 5G and 6G connectivity, as well as improvements in the energy efficiency of homes.<\/p>\n<p>Household spending patterns would also shift. Less money would go to services connected with commuting, while more would be spent on home equipment, energy and technologies supporting remote work.<\/p>\n<p>The most important consequences, however, would concern social relations. Fewer spontaneous interactions would mean weaker knowledge flows between people and a greater risk of organisations operating in closed silos.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_more_convenient_world_but_would_it_be_better\"><\/span>A more convenient world, but would it be better?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A world without offices would probably be more convenient, more flexible and less demanding from a logistical perspective. Fewer commutes, greater freedom to choose where to live and a more even development of regions are arguments that are difficult to ignore.<\/p>\n<p>However, these benefits would come at a cost. Lower productivity, weaker innovation and fewer gains arising from the concentration of people, companies and knowledge would mean a slower pace of economic development.<\/p>\n<p>This is why the discussion about the future of offices should not be reduced solely to the effectiveness of remote work. What matters more is understanding the role that offices play in the broader economic and social ecosystem.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_role_of_relationships_in_office_space\"><\/span>The role of relationships in office space<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A world without offices is not only an economic challenge; above all, it could become a crisis of social relationships. Offices are among the last places where people naturally build so-called \u201cweak ties\u201d, a concept introduced in the 1970s by sociologist Mark Granovetter.<\/p>\n<p>While strong ties \u2014 family and close friends \u2014 provide a sense of security, weaker ties with people from different backgrounds, teams and professional environments often drive development, innovation and access to new career opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>Data from LinkedIn and research by Microsoft suggest that remote work can significantly limit spontaneous exchanges of ideas and place people in more homogeneous information silos. Isolation, while initially comfortable, may quietly and systematically weaken the social fabric and relationship capital that cannot easily be rebuilt through a computer screen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Offices currently generate around PLN 200 billion in gross value added annually in Poland, equivalent to nearly 6% of GDP. Without offices, Warsaw and Poland\u2019s other largest cities could lose approximately PLN 50 billion a year, while the capital itself might have more than 600,000 fewer residents. These are among the conclusions of an analysis [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2182,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5,8],"tags":[3107,289,3480,4693,3430,2863,2754,64,2731,2813,2778,82],"class_list":["post-5862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","category-real-estate","tag-5g","tag-colliers","tag-grzegorz-sielewicz","tag-katarzyna-tasarek-skrok","tag-linkedin","tag-microsoft","tag-play","tag-poland","tag-professional-services","tag-sense","tag-teams","tag-warsaw"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5862"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5862\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ceo.com.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}